36XL Dodger

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David Richards

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Sep 23, 2021, 4:30:59 PM9/23/21
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Hello all, I am new to this owners’ group.  I purchased Aurora, a 1995 36 XL in 2019 and love the boat.  I think Rod the previous owner had told me about this group but I forgot about it and just came across it on Google.

After my second season with the boat I decided that a dodger was next on the list for additions to the boat as it would hopefully provide more comfort while sailing down the coast.  More often than not I am sailing upwind in fog and it would be nice to provide some protection in the cockpit when cruising.  Last winter I found an outfit in Ontario that said they could build me a dodger as they had a few 34+’s in the area from which to make a template from.  Turns out all of these boats had cabin top mainsheet travelers which I am told changes the cabin-top profile where the traveler supports are.  My traveler is in the cockpit, just forward of the binnacle / wheel.  I am located in New Brunswick, Canada, and in talking to everyone locally, there are no canvas shops around that people would trust to build a dodger from scratch.  There is a highly trusted canvas shop in Nova Scotia but they appear to be too busy with local work to be bothered traveling to me.  I am wondering if anyone could provide a recommendation for a canvas shop that has made a dodger for their boats.  Hopefully these shops may have saved a template for the dodger if I have any luck at all.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Dave

S/V Aurora

CHARLES SCHEAFFER

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Sep 23, 2021, 5:06:36 PM9/23/21
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Hi David,
Glad to hear you found the group.

I hope listers will answer your question.
Meanwhile, I expect the cabintop is similar, but the forward edge of the dodger on your boat will have far less things to deal with; no traveller there, no traveller supports, no mainsheet winch or crosshauls.  I would expect a dodger maker to use the same frame and adjust the forward edge only with a lot less cutouts.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the boat.  I know Rod hated selling her.  Look forward to more posts.

Chuck Scheaffer Resolute, 1989 C&C 34R, Annapolis



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Eric Baumes

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Sep 23, 2021, 5:55:27 PM9/23/21
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Do you have a picture of your cabin top? I have a 36+ that is sheeted aft, but I still have the supports and track on the cabin top.

I am surprised that you don't have the same stuff. I.e. that C&C had a different deck mold or cut the supports off.

Jack Huttner

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Sep 23, 2021, 5:58:51 PM9/23/21
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Dave, I don't know how far afield you are willing to go but you might try Quinte Canvas/TopShop in Kingston, ON at 613-384-6316.  They made the winter cover for my boat for the former, first owner, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make the dodger and bimini. My boat (#86) is also boom end sheeted.  

Regards,

Jack


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John Seymour

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Sep 23, 2021, 6:03:57 PM9/23/21
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Hi David,

Welcome to the group.

 

Sorry I don’t have any canvas maker/suppliers to suggest, but will say that a dodger is a very worthwhile project to pursue and will make a big difference in your enjoyment of the boat -  certainly in any kind of inclement weather while sailing, but also at anchor/mooring.

 

My boat has the cabin top mounted main traveller supports but the dodger snaps/buttons are aft of these supports.  So the supports have no impact on my dodger shape or design.  My guess is the outfit in Ontario may have a similar template to avoid the supports and the traveller itself, meaning it would work without the supports present.

 

If not, I agree with Chuck that adjusting the dodger to remove the features for a cabin mounted mainsheet traveller should be doable for any reputable a canvas shop. 

 

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

John Seymour

Grace, 1990 C&C 34+

South Dartmouth, MA

jsnp...@gmail.com

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Sep 23, 2021, 6:57:11 PM9/23/21
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Dave, what’s your timing?  My 36+ needs a full set of canvas and sails, so I decided to set up a canvas shop and am in the beginning stages.  I recruited a young lady with a good history of entrepreneurial activity plus an experienced seamstress on call as backup.

 

I wasn’t planning to do a dodger early on but could take it on if you can be flexible on delivery.  I can fit it to my boat and that will give me a template—assuming your framing matches mine.  I do think it’s original, so it should.

 

As for the forward edge attachment, John Seymour’s report is encouraging.

 

JOHN: Can you submit some photos?  My KaiLoa’s original dodger had a beaded/welted/corded hem that feeds through a slotted tube along the aft edge of the traveler slide and I’d like to have the benefit of seeing what a universal cabin top attachment looks like.

 

For the record, I’m working on a mounting system that doesn’t use snaps and should also seal the forward edge better than snaps.  Creating a standard attachment would be the perfect step to line me up to make a biminy for myself with the new attachment system.

 

EVERYONE:  Can you help me out by sharing price quotes and purchases you have.  I’ll need the dates, too, since supply chain challenges have increased prices lately.

 

-Leland

John Seymour

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Sep 24, 2021, 7:03:04 AM9/24/21
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Attached is a photo of my dodger when I was outfitting it for 2 x 50w solar panels.  The dodger came with the boat. I like others had moved my the traveller to the cockpit seats just forward of the pedestal guard. 

 

You’ll see the forward edge stops short of the cabin top traveller mounts.  I can’t say for sure as I moved the traveller a few years before using the dodger, but now that I think about it, the dodger may have attached to the traveller track.  Now however the forward edge of the dodger is not a tight seal but I have had no issues with water getting through.

 

I do my own canvas work and am also working on a detachable bimini (awning, really) that zips to the aft edge of the dodger and ties to the backstay along the aft edge.  Since my mainsheet is in the cockpit, it would only be used at anchor. 

 

Hope this helps,

 

-John

IMG_3041.jpg

Rod Desborough

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Sep 24, 2021, 7:53:01 AM9/24/21
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Dave, great to read your email re a digger. Can't help with any answers however. A dodger was often discussed when we owned Aurora but never got to the top of the improvements list so we never tried to source a supplier.
I am sure there must be shopsin the Toronto area that supplied dodgers to the 36XL
Happy Sailing next year since I suspect this season is pretty much over.
It is obvious that I never unsubscribed from this forum since I like to read what is going on with the 34/36's.
Rod Desborough

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Steve Guiney

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Sep 24, 2021, 8:57:51 AM9/24/21
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Where is this shop that you're settling up to do canvas work?

Tim Aseltine

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Sep 24, 2021, 9:24:43 AM9/24/21
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These are two pictures of a C&C36 called Stargazer. I liked the look of it as it was quite tall in appearance.

Tim
#27




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On Sep 24, 2021, at 8:57 AM, Steve Guiney <steven...@gmail.com> wrote:



Tim Aseltine

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Sep 24, 2021, 9:27:25 AM9/24/21
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This is mine. It has the traveller on the cabin top.

Tim #27




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On Sep 24, 2021, at 8:57 AM, Steve Guiney <steven...@gmail.com> wrote:



Rod Desborough

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Sep 24, 2021, 5:49:56 PM9/24/21
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Dave, of course I mean dodger not digger, darn autocorrect...
R

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Harvey Hauschildt

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Sep 25, 2021, 1:02:33 AM9/25/21
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I spent two seasons after I purchased my 34+ without a dodger. I loved sailing the boat clean as it was designed. But the issue for me was; what was my intended use: Race or Cruise? It was simple, a performance cruiser was what I wanted. 
I went with a hard dodger and in time, expanded to a full cockpit enclosure. I have mid boom sheeting on my boat, not so good for racing, bout very good for cruising. 

Most reputable Canvus shops can design a Dodger to fit your boat. I don’t believe there is a template that fits all of our boats. Subtle differences in clutches, winches and rigging will determine your set up. The key thing is how you intend to use the boat. I don’t race unless your in front of me but, in a heavy rain storm at Friday Harbor with the cockpit enclosure up, I can enjoy a dinner with friends while others hide bellow decks.
You may need to venture outside your location to find a suitable Canvus Shop. A good one will serve you well for many years and extend your sailing season.

Best of luck and set your goals high⛵️

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On Sep 24, 2021, at 2:49 PM, Rod Desborough <desbo...@gmail.com> wrote:



jsnp...@gmail.com

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Sep 26, 2021, 9:52:14 AM9/26/21
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Saint Petersburg / Clearwater, Florida  (Tampa area).  Since I have a C&C 36+ and am not proposing to do the installation, it seems doable from afar.  There’s another 34+ in Fort Lauderdale and one in NC that might come down close enough for me to have a close look at fit-up, but that would be a long shot.

 

Where are you located, Dave?

 

-Leland

jsnp...@gmail.com

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Sep 26, 2021, 9:55:37 AM9/26/21
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That’s an interesting instrument panel between your companionway and skylight, John.  How does the dodger accommodate it?

-Leland

jsnp...@gmail.com

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Sep 26, 2021, 10:06:27 AM9/26/21
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Thanks for the input, Harvey.  As a cockpit dweller by preference, I have long-term aspirations for a hard cockpit enclosure.  I tend to sleep in a hammock strung between a winch and the taffrail to enjoy the breeze and fresh air.  Would you mind posting enough photos for me to get a clear understanding of the design and mounting?

 

-Leland

 

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Subject: Re: 36XL Dodger

John Seymour

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Sep 27, 2021, 6:54:37 AM9/27/21
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The instrument panel location is perfect for my needs, as it is visible from every location in the cockpit, but was installed before I started using the dodger.  It’s usually visible through the dodge window, unless it’s raining.  I may move the panel aft to be inside the dodger, or reconfigure the dodger to accommodate the instrument panel better.

Tim Aseltine

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Sep 27, 2021, 9:40:55 AM9/27/21
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David

As a person that has made dodgers and Bimini’s. My concern is that have it made off sight would be, that ever bow is bent differently and installed differently. Meaning that the width could be 1/2” out or the mounting could be installed off compared to instructed. This can lead to material to short to mount onto the deck, around windows and hardware.
I hope I explained this well. It can be done, but there are concerns.

Tim Aseltine 
Oui R One. #27

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On Sep 23, 2021, at 4:31 PM, David Richards <richar...@gmail.com> wrote:


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Ben Sutton

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Sep 27, 2021, 10:16:34 AM9/27/21
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I have the same concern as Tim. I have never come across a reputable canvas maker who is prepared to stand behind dodger unless they were able to fit it directly to the frame. If there is any pooling of water on the top the dodger it won’t work properly.
Ben Sutton
C&C 34+ #15.

On Sep 27, 2021, at 6:40 AM, Tim Aseltine <timas...@gmail.com> wrote:

David
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